Ian Ellis spoke of his view that infrastructure was failing to keep up with development in Bendigo’s suburbs, particularly his home area of Epsom, where he identified the Howard Street-Midland Highway intersection as needing work.

He said recent state government announcements – such as upgrades for the McIvor Highway, Bendigo-Redesdale Road and the Calder – were only occurring because it was an election year, and more was needed to address “congestion” in Bendigo.

“There are heaps of roads that need to be fixed. There’s a lot of roads that aren’t keeping up with the development that’s going around,” Mr Ellis said.

“Some of the funding recently is very recently, oddly enough it’s an election year. There should have been more spent in the term of government at this time, as they’re spending now.”

He said he was keen to see greater engagement with youth to try to “change attitudes” to youth crime, and supported the Liberals’ plans to introduce the Police in Schools program.

When asked about the Andrews Government’s $1.91 billion package for family violence measures, and if it would reduce the largest source of crime in Victoria, he said the plan “wouldn’t even scratch the surface”.

“I support the measures, but I believe a lot more needs to be done,” he said.

“In Bendigo, obviously addressing the youth issue… if you look at the crime figures, a high proportion of crime in youth.”

Jacinta Allan holds the seat on a margin of just over 5 per cent, and the Liberal Party encountered criticism for leaving it late to announce its candidate for Bendigo East.

Mr Ellis was unconcerned about only have six months to build his profile in the community to topple one of the Andrews Government’s senior ministers.

“I think if you get in too early you may get a little stale. So short and sharp, if you like, is probably the best way,” he said.

“At the moment it’s a self-funded campaign. We get assistance from Melbourne, at this stage I don’t know how much, we’ll see.

“I just see her (Ms Allan) as a member of the Andrews Government that we need to remove.”

Mr Ellis said he would reserve his opinion on the Marong Business Park, and he would contact the Carter family.

Jacinta Allan stood by the Andrews Government’s record on infrastructure investment, and said there was more she wanted to achieve as Member for Bendigo East.

“If you look at things that have already been achieved here in Bendigo, the new hospital, new secondary schools, investments in transport road and rail, but we also know there’s more to do and I’ll continue to push on and work hard to deliver more of these opportunities for Bendigo,” she said.

“It’s always a big job to both represent and campaign, to continue to represent the community of Bendigo East.

“It’s not a position you take for granted, it’s not a position I’ve ever taken for granted. It’s also a position I love to do.”

Ms Allan said the selection of Mr Ellis as candidate was a matter for the Liberal Party, and his crime focus was unlikely to sway voters.

“When you consider that Matthew Guy chooses to have dinner in Melbourne with alleged members of organised crime, it really does undermine their efforts on this issue,” she said.

“It stands in stark contrast to the enormous investment the Andrews Labor Government is making by putting more police on the beat, and we’re seeing the crime rates going down as a response.”

The state election will be held on November 24.